Lani Devine of Australian accessories label Her Royal Flyness has designed a colour-coordinated kit for jilted women, containing all the tools they need to take revenge on their ex-boyfriends in style.

The Ex-Boyfriend Revenge Kit is displayed on the Sydney-based company's online store, and comprises a teal woven leather tote bag from the Her Royal Flyness collection, accompanied by tools and weapons that could be used to break into an ex-boyfriend's property, subdue and punish them.

Designer and Her Royal Flyness owner Lani Devine insists that the project is conceptual and is intended to provoke discussion. "We don't promote any type of real life violence to anyone," she told Dezeen. "The kit will never actually be sold in any way or form and we never intended it to be. It was purely an exercise in design for us that turned out being quite visually interesting."

Most of the items contained in the bag, including a balaclava, a crowbar, rope and leather gloves, are finished in a matching shade of teal and are designed to look as stylish as fashion accessories. The set also contains a pair of resin knuckledusters and an injection kit with a single shot of truth serum.

"From a design perspective we wanted to explore the idea of how things that are usually deemed dangerous might look if they were designed with a much more elegant approach," said Devine. "Would they seem less dangerous? Or would they be even more intimidating? Would they actually go with our bag as an ensemble? How much would something like that sell for?"

Devine explained that posting the "limited edition" set on her site, with a hypothetical price of $1850, was intended to provoke discussion and promote her genuine products. Attempting to buy the kit prompts an error message explaining that the product is out of stock.

"Designing all the pieces and actually working out what would be in the revenge kit was an interesting project as a designer," she said. "The items scared me at first but now I can see how something that is used in an ugly way can be made beautiful. The outcome in our eyes is that the dangerous items look less intimidating but the person you imagine buying them becomes scarier."

Devine added that feedback from her customers has been good and the project has helped increase sales of the standard tote bag.

"We have had a really positive response to it so far, the women that like our brand/bags have really embraced the dark humour of it and also like the way the items have come together as a set," she claimed. "We haven't had anyone contact us attempting to buy a kit yet. We've sold a lot of the teal bags without all the nasty additions though."

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If I put a prescription bottle of Flunitrazepam, a knife and a box of condoms in a kit, I’d be labelled a rape enabler. But because it’s in tiffany blue and man hating it is just “dark humour”. Got it.

rohtmuz

I would say assembled rather than designed? As far as I am aware the crowbar has been in existence prior to Lani Devines! This is a collection of items, not new designs.

And should design really promote violence? I would suggest that it shouldn’t!

Well done Dezeen. Another article of which you are in danger of becoming a one-dimensional Daily Mail of the design world!

James Bullock

It would be interesting to see the reaction if a man designed an ex-girlfriend revenge kit with a balaclava, crowbar and knuckle duster included.

co_

God forbid this had been the other way around – a kit for boys to exact revenge on their ex girlfriends. What makes it okay to publish this apology for domestic violence?

retep

Why is it that violence against men by women appears to be acceptable Dezeen? Why are you encouraging this? If this was an ex-girlfriend kit there would be outrage!

Shocking that you Dezeen condone such behaviour.

JayJay

Completely, utterly and reprehensibly sexist! Imagine the outcry, both international and otherwise, if this had been designed for use against a woman! Inexcusable Dezeen.

Steeevyo

Disgusting Dezeen. I am done with you.

Lauren

Awesome! Denounce all sexism. You sir, are an ally! As someone who obviously has zero tolerance for sexism, I am curious – what other publications have you unsubscribed from?

Steeevyo

I am done with any publication that promotes violence against male/female/transgender people in any form. Especially when it comes across as cynical self promotion disguised as fake enlightened discussion/awareness raising statement. I don’t know what you mean by sexism? This is promoting violence. Physical violence.

Steeevyo

Also let’s make no mistake here. All the promotional trash speak quoted above simply glosses over the fact that the designer wanted to cause outrage and publicity. Knowing full well that the promotion of violence against men will cause such an outrage.

The fact that Dezeen supports such a cheap attempt at creating publicity should make them ashamed of themselves. You at Dezeen hit the lowest of lows by stopping to such lows.

Shame on you Marcus Fairs!

rohtmuz

This is what I alluded to when comparing Dezeen to the Daily Mail.

Erik Schwan

A designer wanting a reacting is fine. Even if that reaction is outrage. But when it’s outrage at the ignorance of the designer, it’s just trash.

dftg

I urge to remove this irresponsible journalism Dezeen!

Simon Gerssen

Humour – all objects are existing items invented by men?

Pedros

Does no-one read the explanation?! Provocation is essentially at the crux of the exercise. It has a dark slant which proves interesting in terms of its ability to promote discussion, but retorts by Dezeen readers of blunt sexism haven’t really dealt with the issue.

Johan Sundberg

Please remove this sensationalist nonsense.

Tired of liberal fluff

Did you read the article? Please remove yourself from this thread.

Lauren

Certainly thought provoking. I don’t condone violence against anyone. I wonder, however, if this had actually been the other way around – how many of the comments would implore others to lighten up already. In this case, probably not many. It’s easier to decide when it’s black and white like this. Point being, male sexism often sees some sort of defence but here we have a woman doing it, and all comments are hyper critical. Except for that 3D-printed comment. That wins.

Steeevyo

You can’t be serious. If the roles were reversed Dezeen:

A. You would have never published it
B. Had they done so the internet would be in flames by now and rightly so.

Thought provoking? What?

L

You’re right I would not have published it because I don’t publish anything. It’s not my thing. I’m already a little weary that I seem to be letting myself get sucked into a comment debate on a website. What am I doing?

For the most part, I’m with you. The internet is aflame with rage about sexism. It’s everywhere. There is a lot of internet comedy that is (in my opinion) so depressingly sexist. It’s hard not to read the comments but I always do, and there is always a ton of dialogue in defence of sexism. Here a woman is doing it with a certain amount of awareness. She knows she’s sparking a discussion. And boom, we’ve got men blocking Dezeen’s domain. I am doubtful they’ve reacted and blocked any other publications for sexism pointed at women, and if they’ve ever come to the defend a woman’s position, if they did so with such domain blocking fever? I look at these comments and I just wonder how I can get men to stand with women with this much conviction.

This argument has more than two sides. I’m interested in looking at the different angles this example of design is illustrating. I love the outrage against sexism. More please! Hey! While you’re this worked up, wanna go to a gender equality rally with me?

Steeevyo

The point is simple, if a woman does something so outrageously offensive then people will come around the corner and call it brave, thought provoking interesting and similar things. They will not set the internet on fire. This would only happen if a man did it. I can’t see gender equality in that. I see as previously stated a cheap and hollow PR attempt. There is no intellectual depth or deeper message in that product she is offering. I want to have you explain where the message is hidden if you know where it is. Only for publicity this is done and yes I am aware of the irony that I am doing her bidding here. But sometimes you have to call out something offensive and malicious exactly for what it is.

I don’t do rallies sorry.

sickofbull

As much as you may believe that the rest of us don’t. As much as you may think you’re taking a ‘feminist stand’ you’re actually just endorsing brainless commercialism.

sick

Here’s some ‘food for thought’ Dezeen. As of today, I’m unsubscribing your newsletters and blocking your domain in my browsers firewalls.That way I won’t even be able to check you by accident. Fare badly.

Rune

This outrageous set not only promotes gender violence, it gives suggestions as to how to perform it.

Incredibly irresponsible of both the “designer” and Dezeen.

Steeevyo

News of the World is more like it.

rgavassa

Well said!

asolitarywave

I read the explanation. Cynical click bait by promoting violence and sexism and the grounds of ‘provoking discussion’ is still promoting violence and sexism.

Espo

How is it promoting sexism or violence, it seems little different than the spirit of reading a gritty crime thriller? It starts to talk about the semiotics of these objects and how we define them through the aesthetic. As for the sexist argument, I’m struggling to understand the perspective. If it is one about it being okay for women to submit this and not okay for men, then maybe there are some questions to be answered about the disparity between perceptions of design as applied by either sex.

DesignerDad

Wow Dezeen – this is an incredible and uncharacteristic low in your design story coverage. I think you owe your community an apology for posting something like this. As others say – if I, as a man, created an “ex-girlfriend revenge kit” it wouldn’t be considered designy or artistic – it would be considered criminal. Disgraceful – you should be ashamed.

Brononamous

There are so many talented young designers who would love to have their work featured here, yet Dezeen chooses to promote ‘controversial’ and poor design. People do value substance over hype!

jake

I’ll tell you my problem with this – it hasn’t really been designed.

Some objects have been coloured blue and assembled into a boring kit. IT’S NOT EVEN CLEVER, OH GOD DEZEEN PLEASE. If I spray paint something, will I get featured? Please feature me.

Also fellow gentleman, stop whining about sexism or whatever else, men have not been oppressed probably ever – so chill out.

gone baby gone

Ditto Dezeen, goodbye this is a new low.

Elena

Aahhh NOOOooo… This is not a useful provocation – merely sensationalist. In which case, I guess it is a success. Disturbing however that you justify it; the justification is fluff, by the way. Zero design – correct me if I am wrong, but this is merely Photoshop on existing items. Zero dark humour – would need to be funny to be humour.

Go eat your polar fleece vest.

This is great, I think it’s really, really funny. It’s obviously a bit of fun and something that anyone with a sense of humour can appreciate. I also love how people are so self righteous about the glorification of violence and sexism. Then they go home and watch TV and Films with rape and murder in them and don’t bat an eyelid. I hope all the hypocritical do gooders that comment on here also write a letter to every film studio and men’s magazine in the country as well. Design whatever the hell you want I say. Just don’t sell one to my Ex.

Matt

Finally, a reasonable response :)

Steeevyo

So selling design objects for use as revenge tools in a violent manner is the equivalent of watching fiction on a screen. You sound extremely intelligent. Congratulations.

Jimmy

You cannot buy these objects as products. If you read the article, you will see that it is a conceptual project, which is being used to promote a bag.

Greenish

This is an interesting discussion on a touchy subject, that doesn’t need to stoop to insults, however sarcastic. Reign it in or go take a walk and forget the internet for a minute.

Steeevyo

Sorry the critics were already called ‘morons’ above, so your insult falls a little short. Try better next time.

Greenish

If you think what I wrote was an insult, it’s definitely time to take a walk. Go cool off dude, and remember not everything you read on the internet needs to be taken so personally.

Peder Pili Strand

I think the idea is quite funny! It’s just important not to take it seriously.

solastalgia

The promotion of any violence is problematic (though the designer does address that in the article, but that’s another debate entirely). What many of the comments here lack is an understanding of how gendered violence against women differs from violence against men.

Of course an assault kit against women would be received differently, because the type, proportion, social setting, and implications of those crimes are unique. (And if anyone here thinks women objecting to a violence-against-women kit wouldn’t be told to “lighten up,” you’re wrong.)

I think where this design misses the mark of humuor is that none of the products seem tongue-in-cheek. There could have been some direction here that would have felt more developed than simply putting a bunch of weapons into a bag. Unless the designer was simply going for morbidity in the first place, which is definitely uncomfortable (and arguably unimpressive).

Ex girlfriend.

So Truth Serum and a girly coloured crow bar isn’t tongue in cheek? Give me a break? Everyone has different tastes when it comes to humour but this is hardly trying to be realistic or malicious. I myself laughed out loud when I saw it and sent the link straight to my friend who is going through a tough break up. She loves it and said it made her feel a lot better.

Daniel Cox

Whoever did this, and I didn’t bother to waste my time reading the article, should do quite well in marketing, design maybe not so much. As for Dezeen? It has already been pretty much relegated to the ‘amusing, but not important’ sites for some time.

ANderzzzz

Did anybody notice that regardless of gender and violence blah blah blah… these photos are just photoshopped in different patterns over and over again. Lani didn’t even take time to take real photos, or at least hide the shoddy photoshopping. If we are going to be subjected to stuff like this at least make sure it is well executed.

viking80

Dezeen promoting violence? This is disappointing really – what does this have to do on a site focusing on design?

mikele

Why show this? Value?

Võ Duy Kim

I don’t get it, why does everyone have to be hostile about the sets? As the designer explained “purely an exercise in design”. Why so serious about it? It will never be on sale anyway. Me and my friends find this very cool and funny.

Steeevyo

Interesting Dezeen moderation how you censor comments that are only as disgusting as this product you are promoting. I am happy that you censored the comment by the way because I know when a line is crossed, which the designer and you guys obviously do not.

Danni

Horrible. Absolutely disgusting, domestic violence is not funny and should not be the subject of a cheap publicity stunt.

Simon Gerssen

Political correctness (adjectivally, politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term that refers to language, ideas, or policies that address perceived or actual discrimination against or alienation of politically, socially or economically disadvantaged groups. The term usually implies that these social considerations are excessive or of a purely “political” nature. These groups most prominently include those defined by gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability.

Jonathan Snell

Anyone who is unsubscribing from Dezeen as a result of this needs to stop being such a self-righteous moron. Okay, so this may not be the most intelligent of design exercises and yes it is poorly executed, but what is the point of a website such as Dezeen if not to occasionally post something that will raise peoples hackles?

Design shouldn’t always be comfortable and I personally am not convinced that this actually promotes domestic violence. I find it hard to believe that anybody looking at this will be inspired to go and create a kit such as this and exact revenge upon an ex. I’m not going to sit here and suggest that Dezeen is morally reprehensible as I think it is a fantastic archive of design. Look at the forum for discussion it created with this one.

Steeevyo

Who is talking about oppression? And nobody complains about sexism. It is about violence.

pipo

What part of the kit was actually designed? Just looks painted blue in photoshop to me. Very effective publicity stunt in my opinion, but nothing more than that really.

Ellso

Design isn’t just about making a singular object. The idea of taking things that are usually considered ugly and dangerous and making them attractive is a really interesting design brief. As well as making all the items work together. They could have just put a gun or a big knife in there but I think the items make an intriguing story.

jimmy

I find it amazing how many people love to be outraged. It’s also quite interesting that many people here haven’t understood that these objects are not for sale. It is a conceptual project promoting a bag.

Many of you here are so busy being shocked without any critical thought that you have jumped into bed with the marketing strategy of the product itself, the product being a bag and not the weapons depicted.

Derek_V

Interesting post. Two years ago I got violently assaulted by my ex-girlfriend. Approaching me from behind she smashed an empty beer bottle over my head. After I fell she kicked me several times into my stomach and groin area with her boots. I had to spend three days in the hospital. She got 6 months probation for her offence. Really nice from the judge, no?

Anyone defending this cynical product (not too many fortunately but still too many) maybe want to ask me what I did to provoke her actions? Because that was really the most depressing part of my experience, when certain type of people quite openly tried to put the blame on me back then. Funny how that happens, eh?

Dezeen please do me a favour and learn some awareness!

Thank you.
Derek

pipo

*facepalms* Then would you care to explain how gendered violence against women differs from violence against men? You can’t because it doesn’t.

Alex Nisangah

I have to say this is a pointless design exercise.

Concerned Citizen

As if women needed any tools at all.

paul rider

Lighten up people, it’s IRONY! and Aussies are famous for pushing the humour. As she has said, it’s to provoke debate. She didn’t say she condoned violence? And she didn’t include any castration equipment!

Ella

The reason this is acceptable as a revenge kit for women is because women are generally considered incapable of causing real damage to the strong male body, even if you give them knuckledusters…

The interesting part about this design is to see what people would prefer to have in a kit to take revenge on the ex. Most of us have had our hearts broken one time or another, so we know the feeling. We all deal with it in other ways. But what if we could do what we wanted with that heartbreaker?

Maurice

Isn’t a diet of look-alike boxy buildings and ‘interesting’ chairs enough for all you design Charlies? Oh, you want to beat up men too. How creative.

ewoodall

This is a kit of murder and distaste, rather than a ‘revenge’ kit. I completely agree with the most in saying that if it was an ex-girlfriend revenge kit – well – would we see this ‘designer’ again? I think not!

Guest

Pretty edgy. It should include a copy of the Scum manifesto too to top it all off. Misandry is so culturally embedded that this form of gendered violence can just be quipped about.